WC police shortage cripples operations
In June Operation Shanela 2 was launched across the province. It's more police, with a targeted approach because of improved crime intelligence.
The establishment of an anti-gang unit and frequent raids by Operation Shanela officers, are having minimal impact.
Gang and extortion related killings continue, especially on the Cape Flats. There has been a spate of mass killings. Seven people were shot dead one incident in Gugulethu. And between June and July dozens of people have been killed in gang related violence on the Cape Flats.
The City of Cape Town plans to add 700 more police officers. They will be deployed in September after 18 months of specialised training.
The province has also launched crime prevention programmes at schools. Planet Youth has also been rolled out at schools and targets substance abuse among grade 8 and 9 pupils.
The programme aims to shield young people from the temptation of joining gangs,
and offers them a safer, supportive environment.
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The Herald
16 hours ago
- The Herald
Police arrest 17,054 suspects in a week during Operation Shanela
Police have arrested 17,054 suspects in organised crimes and high-impact offences through Operation Shanela across the country between July 27 and August 2. The operation, which began in 2023, is aimed at eradicating crime. It consists of regular stop-and-searches, roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints, high-visibility patrols including foot patrols and the tracing of wanted suspects. According to police spokesperson Lt-Col Vincent Mukhathi, 2,911 suspects were arrested for serious and violent crimes such as murder, attempted murder, car hijacking, rape and house and business robbery. Arrests included: 179 for murder 266 for rape 1,763 for assault GHB 246 for dealing in drugs 2,406 for possession of drugs 15 for human trafficking. Confiscations and recoveries included: 1,805 rounds of ammunition 155 firearms 53 hijacked and stolen vehicles Mukhathi made reference to some major arrests made in Gauteng, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape. In Gauteng, police seized two unlicensed firearms from a suspect linked to armed robberies. A 37-year-old alleged rapist and serial killer, suspected of using dating apps to lure victims in Pretoria, was arrested. A 25-year-old suspect from São Paulo was intercepted at OR Tambo International Airport while attempting to smuggle cocaine valued at R4.2m. Another high-profile case involved the police political killings task Tteam arresting businessman Katiso Molefe and three suspected hitmen for the murder of DJ Sumbody. They are also allegedly linked to the murder of Hector 'DJ Vintos' Buthelezi. 'They appeared in the Alexander magistrate's court on July 29 facing charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition,' Mukhathi said. In the Free State, a 42-year-old foreign national truck driver was found in possession of illicit cigarettes worth R800,000. He is expected to appear in court. Police in KwaZulu-Natal arrested two foreign nationals and recovered R30m worth of counterfeit jewellery and luxury items, a shotgun, ammunition and cash. In Gqeberha, police seized counterfeit pharmaceuticals and consumer goods, including unregulated tablets and pregnancy kits valued at R2.2m. A suspect linked to an extortion ring was fatally wounded in a shoot-out with tactical response team members in Ngqeleni. 'A 9mm pistol and live ammunition were recovered. His passenger was detained for questioning,' Mukhathi said. 'In Port Alfred, POLICE disrupted a marine trafficking operation involving 822.7kg of West Coast rock lobster tails worth R1.2m. Two suspects were arrested for contravening the Marine Living Resources Act.' TimesLIVE
TimesLIVE
18 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Police arrest 17,054 suspects in a week during Operation Shanela
Police have arrested 17,054 suspects in organised crimes and high-impact offences through Operation Shanela across the country between July 27 and August 2. The operation, which began in 2023, is aimed at eradicating crime. It consists of regular stop-and-searches, roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints, high-visibility patrols including foot patrols and the tracing of wanted suspects. According to police spokesperson Lt-Col Vincent Mukhathi, 2,911 suspects were arrested for serious and violent crimes such as murder, attempted murder, car hijacking, rape and house and business robbery. Arrests included: 179 for murder 266 for rape 1,763 for assault GHB 246 for dealing in drugs 2,406 for possession of drugs 15 for human trafficking. Confiscations and recoveries included: 1,805 rounds of ammunition 155 firearms 53 hijacked and stolen vehicles Mukhathi made reference to some major arrests made in Gauteng, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape. In Gauteng, police seized two unlicensed firearms from a suspect linked to armed robberies. A 37-year-old alleged rapist and serial killer, suspected of using dating apps to lure victims in Pretoria, was arrested. A 25-year-old suspect from São Paulo was intercepted at OR Tambo International Airport while attempting to smuggle cocaine valued at R4.2m. Another high-profile case involved the police political killings task Tteam arresting businessman Katiso Molefe and three suspected hitmen for the murder of DJ Sumbody. They are also allegedly linked to the murder of Hector 'DJ Vintos' Buthelezi. 'They appeared in the Alexander magistrate's court on July 29 facing charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition,' Mukhathi said. In the Free State, a 42-year-old foreign national truck driver was found in possession of illicit cigarettes worth R800,000. He is expected to appear in court. Police in KwaZulu-Natal arrested two foreign nationals and recovered R30m worth of counterfeit jewellery and luxury items, a shotgun, ammunition and cash. In Gqeberha, police seized counterfeit pharmaceuticals and consumer goods, including unregulated tablets and pregnancy kits valued at R2.2m. A suspect linked to an extortion ring was fatally wounded in a shoot-out with tactical response team members in Ngqeleni. 'A 9mm pistol and live ammunition were recovered. His passenger was detained for questioning,' Mukhathi said. 'In Port Alfred, POLICE disrupted a marine trafficking operation involving 822.7kg of West Coast rock lobster tails worth R1.2m. Two suspects were arrested for contravening the Marine Living Resources Act.'
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Drugs, weapons, and liquor seized as SAPS intensifies ongoing metro-wide operation
Police arrested 356 suspects on the weekend during Operation Shanela in Atteridgeville. The August 2 operation, aimed at increasing police visibility and restoring order, focused on the Atteridgeville policing precinct and surrounding areas. 'The joint efforts of this team yielded significant results, with 356 suspects arrested for various criminal offences. This outcome is a direct reflection of thorough planning, targeted deployments, and sustained visibility intended to suppress crime and track wanted suspects in identified areas,' said police spokesperson, Captain Johan Van Dyk. Tshwane District detectives launched the first phase of the operation by arresting 260 suspects, including 65 for gender-based violence-related (GBV) offences, three for murder, three for attempted murder, six for armed robbery, one for perjury, three for possession of unlicensed firearms, and six for rape. The second phase of the operation, executed by uniformed officers, involved a roadblock within the precinct, supported by two operational teams deployed across the area. As a result, 34 undocumented foreign nationals were detained and are currently being processed by immigration authorities for court appearances and deportation, with one person being fined for employing illegal immigrants. In total, 1 240 individuals and 518 vehicles were searched, with three vehicles being verified to determine whether they were stolen. This resulted in the recovery of a motor vehicle that was reported stolen earlier at Pretoria Central SAPS. Police arrested 37 people for driving under the influence of alcohol. One vehicle was confiscated due to non-compliance with the Road Traffic Act and 60 Aarto infringement notices were issued, amounting to R30 000. Targeted patrols and searches were also carried out at 25 identified crime hotspots, further disrupting criminal activity and resulting in the arrest of nine people for public drinking. Two suspects were arrested for dealing and possession of drugs when 417 ziplock bags containing various drugs and an undisclosed amount of cash were found in their possession. Additionally, 32 liquor outlets were inspected for compliance, leading to the closure of 11 establishments due to their non-compliance. This resulted in the confiscation of 3460 litres of liquor and two gambling machines. The SAPS in Tshwane says it continues to maintain its zero-tolerance stance on crime through the continued execution of Operation Shanela across the metro. The SAPS urges residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity by contacting Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or via the My SAPS App. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
